Question for the contractor types here...

[Scott Douglas]

Here is the situation.
Back in 2001, we had a whole new roof put on. This included a tear off of all the existing roof, both on the sloped, shingle part and the flat roof over our family room.

I recently got a quote for 'repair' of the flat roof. I called the same company that put it on originally. I have no complaints about them or the quality of their work. The roof doesn't leak, this is more to appease my wife who watches a lot of HGTV shows, and is worried the flat roof portion of our roof has reached it's end of life, or is close to it. We spent a bit of money getting the inside painted white and my wife doesn't want a leak to ruin it.

The estimate to 'repair' the roof is for a silicon system to be applied. It also includes replacing our whirlybird turbine which is making noise when it spins. When they installed the roof back in '01, they painted all the vents/turbine/pipes coming out of the roof brown to match the shingles.
My question is, am I out of line asking for an itemized listing of the costs of the materials. IE the new turbine, paint, sealant etc and labor involved in each activity?

I looked at Home Depot and there are brown turbines available which seems to me to be better than trying to paint one.
Am I being to anal about it all and should I just suck it up and pay to have it done and be done with it?

[look 171]

Most aren't that sophisticated enough (or lazy)to give you a break down just for a small flat roof. When they smell you asking for those minor details, they will run like hell. Most roofs are based on sq yard. If small roof is needed, they sometimes bid on labor and materials. Have them give you a complete bid and be done with it.

If the flat roof was installed on 01, it maybe time to install a new one. They normally last 25 years give or take. Any bucking of roofing up there?

[Zeke]

You can likely service the turbine. And there are a plethora of coatings to not only extend the life of a built-up roof, but drop summertime temps. For about a buck fifty for a 5 gal you can 2-coat a 500 sq ft roof. Easy DIY.

Get the pro stuff from the roofing supply. I used something with the number 700 (7xx) in it. It's white and creates a rubber membrane. With some trouble I could find out exactly what I bought at Allied Roofing supply. (ALL Roofing)

[Scott Douglas]

Thanks guys.
I'm not sure if the roof has any buckling or not. It's been a while since I was up there and I don't have a ladder to get up there now. He said it looked to be in good shape, aging the way he expected it to so I don't think it's a problem.
I would service the turbine myself, but my wife doesn't allow me to climb ladders now. Besides, I don't have one that will get me up there anyways, and frankly, I don't want to do it.
The material they're proposing to use is APOC 585 Armor Flex Silicon. I looked it up, should be good enough for my life time. He!!, I didn't expect to live this long when I put the roof on in '01. I'm pretty sure it'll outlast me now.
I appreciate the input. If the wife were worried about the money, which she isn't, it'd be one thing. Since it isn't a problem for her I'm just going to have them do it.
Thanks again.

[look 171]

If the roof is good, roll that rubber stuff on to get more miles out of the roof, call it good. Get an handy dandy guy to service the whirlybirds.